Handbag with flexible spring tensioned sliding closure



June 5, 1951 w SCHAFER 2,555,705

HANDBAG WITH FLEXIBLE SPRING TENSIONED SLIDING CLOSURE Filed June 25,1948 4 4 Wilmer H. Sc/rafer 4 I INVENTOR.

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIC HANDBAG WITH FLEXIBLESPRING TENSIONED SLIDING CLOSURE Wilmer H. Schafer, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 34,627

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in ladies hand bags, the principalobject in view being to provide a semi-rigid hand bag of few parts andSimple construction with a flexible slide closure of a disappearing typespring actuated to open when released and uncovering an opening in thebag larger in comparison with the size of the bag than the openingsprovided in similar hand bags of commerce.

Another object is to provide a bag of the character and for the purposeabove set forth which is light in weight, strong and durable, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects, together with the precise nature of myimprovements, will be readily understood when the succeeding descriptionand claims are read with reference to the drawing, accompanying andforming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved hand bag in a preferredembodiment thereof with the closure closed;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical transverse section drawn to a largerscale and with the closure closed;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the end frames with oneof the end walls attached thereto and drawn to a larger scale, the framebeing viewed from the inner side thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on'the line ii of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, partly in section,drawn to a larger scale and illustrating the latch and a keeper plate indetail;

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-4: ofFigure 2 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the linel-'I of Figure 4 and drawn to a larger scale Figure 8 is a fragmentaryview in vertical section tahen on the line 8-46 of Figure 3 and drawn toa larger scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, an exemplifying embodiment of myimproved bag, as illustrated, comprises a semi-rigid body I of generallytriangular form in cross-section with a bottom wall a similar inner backwall 3, a relatively shcrt front wall l, an outer back wall 5 spacedfrom the inner back fall 3 parallel therewith to form a hollow back fora purpose presently seen, and vertically elongated, substantiallytriangular, end walls *3 extending above the i front wall 4 and the backwalls 3, 5 with rounded upper portions I and front edges 8 incliningupwardly and rearwardly to said portions 1 from the top edge of thefront wall A. As will be seen, the designated walls together with hecrosssectional shape of the body I provide for said walls defining acomparatively large opening in the body I.

The body I includes end frames 9, it, of substantially rigid strapmaterial and which are of the same shape as the end walls 5. The endframes 9, It are each formed on the inner sides thereof with a pair oflaterally spaced, rear, vertical slots I I, I2, the last-named slotsbeing open at the bottom of the frame, and in these slots the inner backwall 3 and the outer back wall 5 are inserted at side edges thereof andsuitably fixed. As will. be seen the open bottom. ends of the rearvertical slots I2 provides for sliding the outer back wall 5 therein, thadvantage of which will be manifest.

Each frame 9, It is also provided with a third slot I3 in the inner sidethereof extending from the bottom of the frame intermediate the slotsII, I2, around the upper end portion of the frame, and down the front ofthe frame and along the bottom of the same to the inner back wall 3. Thefront wall i and the bottom wall 2 are suitably secured at side edgesthereof, in one piece, in said slots I3.

The slots I 3 are provided with widened portions I4 extending from theupper edge of the front wall i to within a short distance of the upperends of the frames 9, It, and serving a purpose to be explained.

A bore I5 extends in each frame 9, I Ii upwardly at the rear sidethereof opposite the slot 4 and outwardly of said slot from the bottomof the frame to the widened portion Id of the slot I3. The purpose ofthese bores will presently be clear.

Outer side edge slots I6 extend around the frames 9, Ill and in whichthe edges of the side walls 6 are tucked and suitably secured.

A flexible slide closure I'I, commonly designated a roll top type, withslats It hingedly connected together by a flexible backing'sheet I9 isslidably mounted at its side edges in the slots I3 to close the bag andcomplete the top and front of said bag, said closure being slidable insaid slots I3 into open position in the space between the inner andouter back walls 3, 5. The front slat I8 of the closure I? is longerthan the others with ends, as at 26, extending beyond the side edges ofthe closure I l and into the widened portions M of the slots I3. 5

A pair of closure opening coil springs 2| extend through the bores I5with front ends suitably connected, as at 22, to the ends 25 of saidfront slat l8 and having rear hooked ends 23 anchored by plugs 24suitably fixed in said bores l5 at the bottoms 0f the frames 9, Ill.

The top edge of the front wall 4 is recessed, as at 25, to accomodatetherein a hook-type latch 25 pivoted, as at 2?, and spring-pressed, asat 28, with a cam end 29.

The front slat l8 of the closure I1 is similarly recessed, as at 3!], toreceive the latch 26 and a keeper plate 3| fastened to the slat l8 by ascrew 32 to extend into the recess 35, engage the cam end 29 of thelatch 26, and cam the latch to one side as the closure ll nears closedposition, said plate then releasing the latch 26 for snapping over thekeeper plate by the spring 28 to latch the closure l'i closed,

A hand-grip knob 33 on the latch 25 working in a slot 36 in the frontwall It is operative to release the latch 25. A hand-grip knob 35 issuitably secured on the front slat it of the clo sure ii for use inclosing said closures.

A handle strap 36 is suitably secured at its ends to the end walls 6 foruse in carrying the hand bag.

Suitable rollers 31 may be provided in the upper ends of the frames 9,H) for supporting the springs 2| to obviate friction between the springsand the bores l5.

As will be obvious, when the latch 26 is released,

the closure il will slide open under the action of the springs 22 anddisappear, in greater part, in the space between the inner and outerback walls 3, 5 to uncover a comparatively large opening in the body Iof the bag.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to L impart a clearunderstanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification,without departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinreserved I.

invention, what is spaced back walls, said grooves having longitudinaldeepened portions at opposite sides of the opening, said frames havingbores therein extending along opposite side edges of said back walls andcommunicating at one end with said deepened portions, a flexible.closure for said opening slidable in said grooves into the space betweensaid back walls into open position and having a pair of side edgeextensions projecting into said deepened portions, and coil springs insaid bores extending along the same with corresponding ends extendinginto said deepened portions under tension and fixed to said extensionsto slide said closure open intothe space between said back walls, saidsprings being fixed at the other ends thereof in the other ends of saidbores.

2. A handbag comprising a pair of substantiallytriangular end frames,front, bottom and laterally spaced back walls connecting said frames,said frames and the front and back walls defining an opening, saidframes having lateral inner side grooves therein extending alongopposite sides of the opening and in between said spaced back walls,said grooves having longitudinal deepened portions at opposite sides ofthe opening, said frames having bores therein extending along oppositeside edges of said back walls and communicating at one end with saiddeepened portions, a flexible closure for said opening slidable in saidgrooves into the space between said back walls into open position andhaving a pair of side edge extensions projecting into said deepenedportions, ooilsprings in said bores extending along the same withcorresponding ends extending into said deepened portions under tensionand fixed to said extensions to slide said closure open into. the spacebetween said back walls, and plugs in the other ends of said bores towhich the other ends of said springs are anchored.

WILMER I-I. SCI-IAFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 457,581 Floyd Aug. 11, 1891541,927 Goldman July 2, 1895 2,351,597 Burlin June 20, 1944 2,504,574Orlin Apr. 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 59,301 NorwayMay 2, 1938

